Tompkinson erected a three-story brick building in 1853.

The evidence

• “His business increased rapidly, and more commodious quarters became necessary. In 1853, he erected a three-story brick building and stocked it with everything necessary to carry on a first-class business, but, the concern proved to be pretty much of an elephant, and Tompkinson is said to have lost money. At any rate, he became embarrassed, and, in the midst of the trouble, the structure was burned to the ground.”

  1879-history-of-rock-county/14-rock-county-ch08-janesville.md, PDF p. 560 / book p. 564

  Butterfield, C. W., et al. The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc. Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879. Cornell University Library via the Internet Archive, archive.org/details/cu31924028871585.

  Grade A: Found on a page of one of our sources